BELGIUM
Population: 10,289,088
Area: 30,510 sq. km.
Economy: In 2002, Belgium ranked 4th on the UN's Human Development Index survey and 27th in total GDP, with a per capita GDP of $28,964. 4% of its population lives in poverty. Debt service statistics unavailable.
Main Languages: Dutch (Flemish), French
Monkey's Name: Aap, Le Singe
Fun Fact: Of all Belgium's famous comics, no character is more famous than Tintin. The comic showcased the adventures of the journalist Tintin and his trusty dog Snowy as they travelled to exotic places from the Tibet and the Yucatán to the surface of the moon, exploring and solving crimes along the way. Penned and drawn by Belgian artist Hergé, the series first appeared in newspapers in 1929 and later expanded to books. One measure of Tintin's popularity is the fact that his books have been translated into over 60 languages worldwide.
Throughout history, the bulk of Belgium’s territory was occupied by numerous empires and duchies. The Romans arrived in the 1st Century BCE and the Franks succeeded them in the 5th. Charlemagne’s empire incorporated Belgium in the 8th Century and by the 12th Century it had been parceled into the duchies of Luxembourg and Brabant, as well as other administrative districts under different counts and dukes. In the 14th and 15th Centuries, the rise of trade guilds in cities like Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent helped make these places some of the most advanced economies of the era. Under the reign of Philip the Good (1419-1467), a Burgundian king who became ruler of Flanders, many of the disparate duchies and districts were consolidated into a semblance of modern Belgium.
In the 16th Century, the Belgian lands were absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire by Charles V, and, along with the Netherlands, were soon unified with Spain. The Spanish did not have an easy time subjugating their new territory, particularly because as Catholic zealots the Spanish Crown repeatedly repressed the largely Protestant Flemish on religious grounds and because France was intent on wresting control of Belgium from Spain. In the early 18th Century, following the Treaty of Utrecht, the Austro-Hungarian Empire took possession of Belgium, temporarily ending French attempts to dominate the region. However, in the early 19th Century the French Republic conquered Belgium and began running its affairs (and drafting its males and looting its churches). It was in Belgium, too, that Napoleon met his downfall with his 1815 defeat by the British at Waterloo. When the post-Napoleonic Congress of Vienna ceded Belgium to the Netherlands, mass revolts ensued and in 1830, Belgium became an independent state ruled by a monarchy. Belgium followed other European states into the colonization of Africa, claiming territories in the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi that, though independent since the 1960s, are still plagued by the detrimental effects of underdevelopment wrought by colonialism and have been the site of much recent warfare.
The 20th Century was no kinder than previous ones to Belgian sovereignty. In both World Wars, Germany overran its smaller neighbor and massive battles were fought on the Belgian territory. As a result of the devastation caused by the wars, in the post-war period Belgium was instrumental in setting up the institutions that would eventually become the European Union (see Unclaimed Europe for more on that). While it sought greater European integration, Belgium struggled to keep its own house in order. The Dutch-speaking, Flemish north of the country and the French-speaking, Walloon south were often at odds. In particular, Flemish Belgians complained that the Brussels government was not distributing state revenues between Flanders and Wallonia in an equitable manner considering that Flemish people constituted about 60% of the total population. There was also friction over language and cultural rights, with many arguing that Brussels was too pro-francophone. A series of reforms, including a new federal constitution in 1980, granted increased autonomy to Belgium’s three main districts—bilingual Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia—and language rights to the Dutch-, French-, and German-speaking communities.
Today Belgium is a key player in European and global affairs, with Brussels as “capital” of the European Union, the seat of NATO, and a business center. Belgium has also been a stalwart progressive in social policy, legalizing gay marriage, marijuana, and euthanasia, and leading the charge for the international enforcement of war crimes laws. The Monkey was happy to spend time in Belgium and looks forward to a return visit. Merci, Belgique! Dank U, Belgie!
The Monkey visits one of Belgium's most recognizable buildings, Brussels' Atomium. The miniature buildings behind him are typical of the Dutch stepped gable style prevalent in the Flemish north of Belgium.
Home——Region Selector——Special Features——Monkey FAQ——Contact——Links
Copyright monkeytravel.org 2002-2005. The Monkey respects your right to use his photos for your personal, non-profit entertainment or for educational purposes.